Silver
Star Medal
|
A gold star, 1 ½ inches in circumscribing diameter with a
laurel wreath encircling rays from the center and a 3/16 inch
diameter silver star superimposed in the center. The pendant is
suspended from a rectangular shaped metal loop with rounded
corners. The reverse has the inscription "FOR GALLANTRY IN
ACTION".
The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following
stripes: 3/32 inch Ultramarine Blue 67118; 3/64 inch White
67101; 7/32 inch Ultramarine Blue; 7/32 inch White; 7/32 inch
Old Glory Red 67156 (center stripe); 7/32 inch White; 7/32 inch
Ultramarine Blue; 3/64 inch White; and 3/32 inch Ultramarine
Blue. |
Criteria
-
The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while
serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in
action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military
operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while
serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against
an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent
party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that
required for award of the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless
have been performed with marked distinction. Soldiers who received a
citation for gallantry in action during World War I may apply to have
the citation converted to the Silver Star Medal.
Awards may be made for acts of
heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of
lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.
Awards may be made to recognize
single acts of merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or
service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the
Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished
with distinction.
Components
-
The following are authorized components of the Silver Star Medal:
- Decoration (regular size): MIL-D-3943/11. NSN for
decoration set: 8455-00-269-5758. Individual medal:
8455-00-246-3834.
- Decoration (miniature size): MIL-D-3943/11. NSN
8455-00-996-5013.
- Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/136. NSN 8455-00-252-9953.
- Lapel Button: MIL-L-11484/9. NSN 8455-00-253-0819.
Devices: |
|
|
|
|
Bronze
Oak Leaf |
|
|
Silver
Oak Leaf |
|
Background
The Citation Star was established as a result of an Act of
Congress on July 9, 1918 (65th Congress, Sess II,
Chapter 143, page 873) and was promulgated in War Department
Bulletin No. 43 dated 1918. It was retroactive to include those
cited for gallantry in action in previous campaigns back to the
Spanish-American War. Per letter from General Jervey, Office of
the Chief of Staff, dated February 26, 1926, is quoted in part:
The Secretary of War directs as follows - The following is the
amended version of paragraph 187 of Army Regulation: "No
more than one Medal of Honor or one Distinguished Service Cross
or one Distinguished Service Medal shall be issued to any one
person, but for each succeeding or act sufficient to justify the
award of a Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross or
Distinguished Service Medal, respectively, a bronze oak leaf
cluster, shall be issued in lieu thereof; and for each citation
of an officer or enlisted man for gallantry in action, published
in orders from headquarters of a force commanded by a general
officer, not warranting the issue of a Medal of Honor,
Distinguished Service Cross or Distinguished Service Medal, he
shall wear a silver star, 3/16 inch in diameter, as prescribed
in Uniform Regulations." Army Regulation 600-40, paragraph
48, September 27, 1921, specified that the Citation Star would
be worn above the clasp, on the ribbon of the service medal for
the campaign for service in which the citations were given.
On July 19, 1932, the Secretary of War
approved the Silver Star medal to replace the Citation Star.
This design placed the Citation Star on a bronze pendant
suspended from the ribbon design. The star was no longer
attached to a service or campaign ribbon.
Authorization for the Silver Star was
placed into law by an Act of Congress for the Navy on August 7,
1942 and an Act of Congress for the Army on December 15, 1942.
The primary reason for congressional authorization was the
desire to award the medal to civilians as well as the Army. The
current statutory authorization for the Silver Star Medal is
Title 10, United States Code, Section 3746.
Order of precedence and wear of
decorations is contained in Army Regulation 670-1. Policy for
awards, approving authority, supply, and issue of decorations is
contained in Army Regulation 600-8-22 |
Return to Medals |